National Republican., 1887-07-28
PROHIBITION TESTED.
A Years Experience In Atlanta Proves
1t to He Practicable.
ATLANTA Con,titutiop1 /

10 DC
ATLANTA Con.titutiou.1
The election at which prohibition wasput |
On trial In this city is entitled to place |
among great events. No election OF q Local
nature was ever before held in city OF |
co, 600 people In which more was involved. |
II has now been eighteen months since the |
election, and twelve months since the law |
went into effect. We are prepared thus |
from observation TO note results.
Prohibition in this city does prohibit. |
The law is observed as well as the law
against carrying concealed weapons, gam
bling, theft, and other offenses OF like
character. In consideration OF the small
majority with which prohibition was
carried, and the large number OF people
who were opposed 10 seeing 1t prohibited,
the law has been marvelously well observed.
Prohibition has not injured the city flnau-
cially. According to the assessors books
property in the city has increased over
81, 100000. Taxes have not been increased.
Two streets In the city, Decatur aud Peters,
hardly considered proper for a lady to
walk these streets without an escort: Now
they are Just as orderly as any In the city.
Property on them has advanced from 10 to
20 per cent. The loss Of $4,000 revenue,
consequent on closing the saloons, has
tended in no degree to impede the city's
progress in any direction. Large appro-
water works, the public schools,
the Piedmont fair, and other improve:
ments. The business men have raised
100000 to build the Atlanta and Hawkins
vile railroad. The number OF city banks
is TO be increased to five. The coming OF
four new railroads has been settled during
the year. Fifteen new. stores, containing
F,,r
since prohibition went into effect. These
are doing well. More furniture has been
sold to mechanics and laborlng men In the
last twelve months than in any twelve
months during the history Of the city. The
manufacturing establishments Of the city
have received new life. A glass factory has
been built. A cotton seed oil mill is being
companies with basis in real estate have
seen their stock doubled in value since the
election on prohibition.
Stores In which the liquor trade was con-
Quoted are not vacant, but are now occu-
pied by other lines Of trade. According to
the real estate men, more laborers and men
Of limited means are buying lots than ever
before. Rents are more promptly paid than
formerly. More houses arc rented by the
same number OF families than heretofore.
Before prohibition, sometimes as many as
three families would live In one house. The
heads Of those families now not spending
their money for drink are each able to rent
house, thus using three instead Of one.
| Working men who formerly spent great
| part of their money for liquor now spend 1t
| In food and clothes for their families. The
retail grocery men sell more goods and col
| lect their bills better than ever before. Thus
they are able to settle more promptly with
| the wholesale men.
| A preceptible increase has been noticed
| In the number Of people who ride on the
| street cars. According to the coal dealers,
many people bought coal and stored 1t
| away last winter who had never been
| known to do so before. Others who had been
| accustomed to buying two or three tons on
| time, this last winter bought seven or eight
| and paid cash for 1t. A leading proprietor
| Of millinery store said that he had sold
more hats and bonnets to laborlng men for
their wives and daughters than before In
the history of his business. Contractors
say their men do better work, and on Sat
urday evenings, when they receive their
weeks wages, spend the same for flour,
hams, dry goods, or other necessary tlings
for their families. Thus they are In better
spirits, have more hope, and are not In
clined to strike and growl about higher
wages.
Attendance upon the public schools has
increased. The superintendent, of public
Of education made Jan. /, 1887:
"During the past year 1t has become
subject OF remark by teachers In the schools
and by visitors that the children were more
tidy, were better dressed, were better shod
and presented a neater appearance thai
ever before. Less trouble has been expe
rienced in having parents purchase book
required by the rules, fewer children hav
been withdrawn to aid In supporting tn
family, the higher classes In the gramma
| schools have been fuller and more children
| have been promoted to the high schools
both male and female, than ever before II
the history Of the schools. All these lndi
cations point to tue increased prosperity o
the city and to the growing interest In tn
| cause OF education on the part OF the peo
pie"
| There has been q marked Increase In at
tendance upon the Sunday schools of th
city. This is especially noticeable anon
the suburban churches. Many childre
have started to the Sunday schools VIII
were not able to attend for want O
proper clothing. Attendance upon the dit
1900 people have Joined the variou
churches OF the city during the year.
The determination on the part OF the pee
pile to prohibit the liquor traffic has stint
lated disposition to 90 away with othe
evils. The laws against gambling al
iigidly enforced. A considerable stock {
gamblers tools gathered together by til
police for several years past was receutl
used for the purpose Of making large boz
fire on one Of the unoccupied squares OF I'll
city. The city council has refused longt
| to grant license to bucket shops, thus pu
ting the seal Of It's condemnation upon I'll
trade in futures Of all kinds.
All these reforms have had adecided ter
dency to diminish crime. Two weeks wer
necessary formerly to get through with tn
criminal docket During the present yei
, It was closed out In two days. The chai
! gang is almost left with nothing but Il
chains and the balls. The gang part woul
not be large enough to work the publ
, roads Of the county were It not augmente
, by fresh supplies from the surroundin
/ counties. The city government Is In ii
, hands OF our best citizens.
The majority in this county 10 favor
, prohibition was only 235. Such chans
has taken place in public sentiment, hoy
, ever, that now there is hardly respectful
. anti-prohibitlonist In the city who favors
, return to barrooms. There is very lit
drinking In the city. There has been 40 p
cent. falling OFF In the number Of arrest
notwithstanding there has been rigid 4
= terpretation OF the law under whit
: arrests are made. Formerly If man W
! sober enough to walk home he W
!. not molested. Now II there is the sligh
: est variation from that state In which d
j center of gravity falls In line inside Il
: base the party Is made to answer for SUI
variation at the station house.
; Our experience has demonstrated to
beyond doubt that n city of G0,000 inhal